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2009 Family Reunion (July 12, 2009)Hey everyone, you can order prints direct here... or get them on a DVD if you wish. :) Otherwise, to get the full-sized image:
Click on picture to open in new window
Select "original" from the size list below the picture
Right click and save |
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Dad's jeep My dad bought this 1978 Jeep CJ7 brand new. Less than 1% of CJ7's produced in '78 had the big V8 motor in it. The seats are in great shape (also rare), the motor purrs, it just needs some work to get it truly road worthy. Spencer has taken on the task nearly single-handedly. He's doing a great job so far.
Some stats: 1978 AMC Jeep CJ-7, AMC 5.0L 304ci V8, Tremec T-150 3 Speed Manual Transmission, Dana 20 Transfer Case, Dana 30 Front Axle, AMC 20 Rear Axle, All original interior (rare 60/40 split bench front seat)
The motor seized in the late 80's (NEVER use oil w/graphite in it... the graphite deposits in the rings and locks them solid). The Jeep sat in the back yard for years. One winter dad decided to rebuild the motor and go through and fix some other stuff on it that needed fixing. This was probably 12 - 15 years ago (not sure of the time frame exactly). He had purchased a straight 6 motor for it sometime between it seizing and the rebuild... probably before they bought the cottage. He decided to try rebuilding the motor that was in it first... glad he did! After he had it running, he did some patch work on the body (courtesy of the heating and cooling place down the road and their junk furnaces - perfectly good sheet metal), then painted it all with spray cans... some blue paint he bought somewhere along the line.
The Jeep ran for a few years, then came home from the cottage when it was sold a few years ago and has been setting since. Mom didn't know what to do with it... she hated to sell it, but didn't know if anyone in the family was interested in buying it to keep it in the family. I mentioned having the grandsons fix it for a spare vehicle/play toy, and she loved the idea.
So far it has a new fuel pump, new gas tank, new rear brakes, new tires, frame repair, some new bulbs and a few new switches. I am helping somewhat, but Spencer has done the huge bulk of the work. Let me tell you, it was a joy to see that old Jeep rolling down the road with its new tires. :)
10-18: First coat of paint went on today!
10-19: Arrived this morning to find the plastic curtain we taped up had fallen and bumped into driver's door and front fender. Had to wait for paint to dry more before we were able to sand it. Got the second coat on today and some of the tape and paper peeled off.
10-20: Paint is mostly dry, all the paper and tape is off. Mirrors reinstalled, windshield caulked, door hole filled w/bondo and ready for another fill-in today I hope, door sills painted w/first coat (will paint several coats in this area).
10-21: Hood installed with new stainless hardware, stainless cabin air vet grill installed. Bumpers and spare tire rack sanded and painted w/hammered metal finish paint (same as mirrors). We love how the hammered finish contrasts w/the smooth paint on the jeep. Did finish bondo work on hole in door, sanded, primed and one coat of paint on it. I now officially have bondo skills for anything else that may crop up. :)
To do list:
Sand and paint bumpers and spare tire rack (DONE)
Clean up flares and spare tire
Install new hood hardware and put hood back on (DONE)
Install new lights and caulk tail lights
Clean undercarriage and undercoat
Paint several coats in door sills (started)
Paint hard top
Paint speaker boxes |
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The headstone | When asked what he wanted on his headstone, my dad replied that on mom's side it should say "lover butt" and on his side it should read "butt lover". Well, we all got a chuckle out of it at the time, but when he passed, mom really wasn't sure if that was the thing to put on there. Was it really appropriate? Well, according to a lady who's husband is a 'neighbor' it is not... but the family and all our friends just love it! I'll let you make up your own mind about it though. :) |
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Logan | This is an album of pictures of my GREAT nephew Logan. He's the first of the 'greats' so of course he gets his own album! :) |
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Flushing Follies 2003 (October 12, 2003)| Mom and Dad and Aunt Marian starred in this year's show. Here are a few pictures. |
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Family photos | pictures of friends and family to share |
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